Machine for making tubing



Patented Nov. l, I898.

T. J. PRICE MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBING.

(Application mad Sept; 27, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheen.

(No Model.)

. 1 I 1 I 1 I 1 I l 1 l l I 1 1 l No. 613,394. Patented Nov. l, I898. T. J. PRICE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBING.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1897.)

2 $heets-$heet 2.

(N0 Model.)

M QNN INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

- UNITED STATES" P TENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. PRICE, on DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,394, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed September 27, 1897. Serial No. 653,130. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, Montour county, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Tubing, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the acco1npany-.

ing drawings.

My invention is an improvement upon the machine for the same purpose which is described in the specification annexed to Let: ters Patent of the United States No. 575,225, granted on the 12th of January, 1897, to William O. Frick and myself.

My invention has for its object to both simplify the construction and improve the operation of the machine shown in the patent referred to.

In the previous patent a train of rolls is illustrated and described through which the skelp is passed and by which it is converted into an unwelded tube. Between the first and second pairs of rolls the material is converted from a flat skelp to one which in crosssection has the configuration of the letter U. To this portion of the machine as described and claimed in the previous patent my present invention has no relation. The second and third pairs of rolls and the formers which are situated between them convert the U- shaped skelp into a perfect tube, and it is to this portion of the previously-patented in vention that my improvements relate. They consist, generally speaking, in a novel construction and arrangement of the stripper used to strip the second pair of rolls, in the configuration of the forming-dies between the second and third pairs of rolls, by means of which the central former may be done away with, and in the novel construction and means of support of a mandrel the operative part of which is immediately between the third pair of rolls.

In the accompanying drawings myimprovements are illustrated,the drawings only showing such parts of the entire machine as my present invention distinctly relates to, all the rest of the machine being in every respect similar to that shown in the drawings of the previous patent, except that the train of rolls which there follows the third pair of rolls is entirely done away with.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the second and third pairs of rolls, together with the stripper and forming-dies situated between the two pairs of rolls, and certain related parts. Fig. 2 represents in cross-sec tion the stripper and lower forming-die along the line indicated by the corresponding number in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the line indicated by the number 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section along the line indicated by the number 4, Fig. 1, showing both forming-dies. Fig.-5 shows the stripper and the two forming-dies in perspective.

A A are respectively the upper and lower rolls, which I have denominated the second pair, in a series such as has been referred to. They are mounted between suitable housings, such as are customarily used in this art. The pass between these rolls has the shape of the letter U. Immediately in front of this pair of rolls is situated the lower forming-die B. Its configuration will be understood from the cross-sections of it which are illustrated, respectively, in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 and. the perspective View in Fig. 5. Over the portion of the lower forming-die B which is nearest the roll A is situated the pivoted stripper O. The forward end of this stripper projects under a shoulder formed on the upper forming-die, which will subsequently be described, and by this shoulder its forward end is held in place as though it were pivoted. Its upper extremity and that which is nearest to the roll A contains the grooved tongue 0, which runs well in under the roll. This tongue is kept constantly pressing upward against this roll by means of the weight W, hung upon one extremity of the pivoted lever X, the other extremity of which is connected by the link Y to the upper portion of the stripper. The tongue runs the entire length of the stripper and serves to insure the entrance of the U- shaped strip into the mouth of the upper forming-die and to control and guide it until it is discharged from the dies.

In front of the stripper O is the upper forming-die D. This carries upon its extremity nearest the roll A the shoulder under which the stripper is fulcrumed, as has been ex plained. Its central groove 6 e is reduced in size from one end to the other, the more marked reduction occurring near its mouth. Throughout its entire length runs a tonguef, projecting centrally from the roof of the groove.

G G are the third pair of rolls, the pass between which is a perfect circle and the pressure of which gives the final form to the tube. H is a mandrel exerting pressure against the interior of the tube between the rolls G G. This mandrel is carried by a long stem h, which is attached at the extremity opposite the mandrel to the stripper O by means of the turned-up end It, passing loosely up through a vertical hole drilled through the upper stripper.

The method of attaching the mandrel-stem to the stripper is simple and efiective and insures the mandrel being held centrally between the rolls G G. Great difiiculty has hitherto been experienced in attaching mandrels. By the present method I obtain sufficient freedom of play, combined with a strong enough support, to resist the straight pull on the n1andrel-arm.

It must be carefully noted that the stem h of the mandrel is not a former of the interior of the tube. It is considerably smaller in diameter than the diameter of the tube, the formation of which is effected entirely by the mandrel H, except so far as the outward configuration oi' the tube is controlled by the form ing-dies B.

The upper forming-die D is held firmly in its place on top of the lower die 13 by means of the keys I I, passing through stout housings which form the side framing of the die B.

Certain points of construction must be particularly emphasized. The stripper O is only a stripper, and no change in the configuration of the skelp takes place as it passes under it. The roof of the stripper guides the edge of the skelp and prevents it from twisting. The upper forming-die D, by reason of the reduction of the diameter of its groove, effects the turning over of the sides of the U, so as to form the complete circle. The tongue f prevents the twisting of the tube during the process of conformation. Vithout it the neoessarily unequal friction which will occasionally arise upon one side or the other often causes considerable twisting of the tube in the former. The effect of this twisting is emphasized as the tube passes through the rolls G G, with the result of an imperfect and unmerchantable tube. This difficulty is ef= fectually prevented by the use of the tongue along the top of the former.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination, of the rolls, A, A, having a U-shaped pass; rolls, G, G, having a circular pass; a lower forming-die, B, and an upper forming-die, D; a stripper, C, pivoted upon a projecting shoulder of the formingdie, D; and a stem carrying at one extremity a mandrel, H, situated between the rolls, G, G, the other extremity of the stem being turned up vertically, passing through and swiveling within a vertical hole in the stripper, 0, substantially as described.

2. The combination, of the rolls, A, A, hav ing a U-shaped pass; rolls, G, G, having a circular pass; a lower forming-die, B, and an upper forming-die, D; a stripper, C, pivoted upon a projecting shoulder of the formingdie, D, and pressed upward at its other extremity against the roll, A, by means of the link, Y, the lever, X, and the counterweight, S, substantially as described.

3. The combination, of the rolls, A, A, having a U-shaped pass; the rolls, G, G, hav ing a circular pass; a lower forming-die; an upper forming-die; a stripper between the upper forming-die and the rolls, A; a stem, h, carrying a mandrel, H, situated between the rolls, G, G, the play of which is independent of that of the stripper, substantially as described.

THOMAS J. PRICE. lVitnesses:

E. D. CURTZ, JOHN LORWOR. 

